TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME...... 5
INTRODUCTION...... 6
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT...... 7
Affirmative Action and Workplace Compliance...... 7
Non Discrimination Policy...... 8
Ombuds Office...... 12
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS...... 13
Office of the Provost...... 13
Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts14
Center for Innovative and Professional Learning...... 15
College Honors Program...... 15
Information and Technology Services...... 16
George T. Potter Library...... 16
Media Services...... 17
Registrar...... 17
Roukema Center for International Education...... 18
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT STUDENT AFFAIRS...... 19
Admissions...... 19
Graduate and Adult Admissions...... 19
Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation...... 20
Cahill Career Development Center...... 21
Center for Student Success (Advising/Testing)...... 22
Educational Opportunity Fund Program...... 22
Financial Aid...... 23
Veterans Education Programs...... 23
Office of Marketing and Web Administration...... 24
Residence Life...... 24
STUDENT AFFAIRS...... 25
Opportunities for Student Involvement...... 25
Student Leadership Awards...... 27
Council for Faith & Spirituality...... 28
Center for Health and Counseling...... 28
Student Health Services...... 29
Public Safety...... 29
Office of Student Conduct...... 30
Specialized Services...... 30
Center for Student Involvement...... 30
Clubs and Organizations...... 31
Fraternity and Sorority Life...... 32
Honor Societies...... 32
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE...... 33
Bursar’s Office...... 33
Campus Store...... 33
Dining Services...... 34
Facilities...... 35
Human Resources...... 35
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT...... 35
Communication and Public Relations...... 36
Events and Conferences...... 37
Krame Center for Contemplative Studies & Mindful Living...37
COLLEGE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES...... 38
Academic Calendar...... 38
Academic Integrity...... 38
Academic Standing...... 45
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities...... 50
AIDS/HIV...... 50
Alcohol and Other Drug Policy...... 51
Animal Policy...... 62
Behavioral Intervention Team...... 62
Candle and Incense Policy...... 64
Code of Conduct...... 65
Dissection of Plants and Animals...... 84
Entering Classes in Session...... 84
Family Education Rights Act (FERPA)...... 85
Fire Safety...... 86
Fire Safety Systems on Campus...... 86
General Event Photography and Video Policy...... 87
Good Samaritan Policy...... 88
Guest and Visitation Policy...... 90
Hazing Policy...... 94
Identification Cards...... 96
Immunization Requirements...... 97
Involuntary Leave of Absence...... 97
Medical Leave of Absence...... 103
Missing Student Policy...... 108
Official Communications...... 109
Open Public Records Act...... 109
Organization or Team Affiliated Event Policy...... 109
Parental Notification Policy...... 110
Posting Policy...... 110
Recycling Policy...... 113
Religious Observance...... 113
Responsible Use of Electronic Communications...... 114
Rollerskates/Rollerblades/Skateboards...... 115
NJ Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights...... 115
Smoking Policy...... 117
Social Gathering Policy...... 117
Student Appeals of an Academic Nature...... 118
Student Complaints of a Non-Academic Nature...... 121
Student Dissent/Disruption of College Functions...... 122
Student Records...... 123
Dear Students:
As President of Ramapo College of New Jersey, I welcome you to our campus, nestled at the edge of mountains and metropolis. I congratulate you on choosing an outstanding college where you will be challenged and encouraged to push yourself to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Ramapo College's approximately 6,000 students come from more than 40 countries. We are larger than half the colleges in the country, yet small enough for our distinguished faculty and staff to know who you are and to provide you with individual attention and mentoring.
I have been continually impressed by the commitment and dedication of all those involved with the College. You will be exposed to dynamic teaching, hands-on learning, and service and research opportunities of the highest caliber. In addition to classroom work, I encourage you to engage in the wide array of co-curricular activities available at Ramapo College. There are more than 120 clubs and organizations as well as special events and athletic games planned throughout the year.
As you progress through your undergraduate or graduate experience, please keep in mind that my office welcomes student suggestions and feedback. Did you have a particularly memorable classroom experience that you would like to share? Have you observed a practice at the College that you have suggestions for enhancing? I encourage you to visit with me and the President’s office staff or email my office .
At Ramapo College, you will discover a welcoming and intellectually stimulating climate as you pursue your endeavors at all levels. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with this Student Handbook and to explore the full range of opportunities outlined in it. I invite you to visit my website at where I periodically post updates about the College and highlight student, faculty and staff achievements.
At Ramapo College, you can make a difference; so I repeat: welcome to Ramapo College – an exciting place to push your personal, social, and intellectual boundaries.
Cordially,
Dr. Peter P. Mercer
President
INTRODUCTION
The Ramapo College Student Handbook serves as a resource for students. Within this publication are descriptions of the offices students most often interact with, as well as, information regarding clubs,organizations, and other opportunities for student involvement at the college. Equally important, this publication includesthe policies and procedures that serve to outline student rights and responsibilities. The College has developed these policies and procedures to assist students in successfully navigating their college experience. Students should familiarize themselves with all college policies and procedures, as they are held responsible for knowing and abiding by them.
Should students have questions or comments regarding the contents of the Handbook, they are encouraged tocall or stop by the Office of Student Affairs – (201) 684-7457, C-212.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Peter P. Mercer, President
Location: Birch Mansion-215, Extension: 7607
Website:
The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the College. The Office of the President maintains an open door policy for students. Students have many opportunities to interact with the President in both formal and informal settings. The President also routinely meets with the Student Government Association and other student leaders to discuss student concerns and issues facing the College.
The President delivers a State of the College Address twice per academic year. These addresses often highlight trends, achievements, and challenges facing higher education and Ramapo College specifically. All students are encouraged to attend these addresses and participate in the question and answer sessions that follow.
The Office of the President is also primarily responsible for the coordination and delivery of four college-wide events: Convocation, Remembrance Day, Founders’ Day, and Commencement. The President’s webpage, includes information on these four events and is also home to the President’s Post. The Post is updated regularly with news of campus happenings, local and statewide initiatives, and institutional concerns.
Office of Affirmative Action and Workplace Compliance
Website:
Title IX
Kat McGee, Title IX Coordinator
E-mail:
Office: C-214
Phone: (201) 684-7136
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Aaron Sanders, Lead EEO Investigator
E-mail:
Office: Birch Mansion, Room 208
Phone: (201) 684-7540
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Jill Brown, ADA Compliance Officer
E-mail:
Office:D-114
Phone: (201) 684-7502
The Office of Affirmation Action and Workplace Compliance (AAWC) is housed within the Office of the President and supports equal opportunity in employment and education. The AAWC staff advise students and employees regarding rights, options, resources and appropriate actions that may be taken to remedy and address discrimination complaints. The office promotes a campus climate supportive of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness to create an environment free of all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Further, the staff work to recruit and retain a diverse workforce by monitoring faculty and staff search processes.
Title IX: The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for: managing Title IX compliance efforts, grievances, investigations, the dispositions of complaints; promoting a safe learning environment for all people, and; training efforts for the community. Title IX ensures no person will be discriminated against, excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits on the basis of sex/gender in any educational program receiving federal funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)Investigator is responsible managing the College’s compliance efforts with statutes prohibiting discrimination against a job applicant or an employee based on the person's race, creed, religion, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex/gender (including pregnancy), familial status, marital/civil union status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, domestic partnership status, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, disability, (including perceived disability, physical, mental and/or intellectual disabilities), or liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and applicant/employee complaints and investigations.
Americans with Disabilities Act: The Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Officer is responsible for ensuring that the College complies with Federal and State regulations guaranteeing qualified college students with disabilities have equal access to all programs and services.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The College is committed to maintaining an environment free from harassment and discrimination for everyone and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected status. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and federal civil rights laws prohibit discrimination/harassment by or against students based upon the following protected categories: race, creed, religion, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex/gender (including pregnancy), familial status, marital/civil union status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, domestic partnership status, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, disability, (including perceived disability, physical, mental and/or intellectual disabilities), or liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States. Further, the College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational, employment, or extracurricular activity. Sexual misconduct is a form of sexual harassment which is a form of discrimination and is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are also prohibited conduct as defined by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.
Title IX is a federal law which provides that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Ramapo College of New Jersey does not deny or restrict a student or employee from participating in a program on the basis of sex or gender. Title IX applies to students, staff, faculty, visitors (including children) and business vendors at the College, and to sex discrimination or sexual violence which occurs on campus, at College-sponsored events and programs held off-campus; or that may adversely affect the educational environment for members of the college. Sexual violence includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. The College’s Title IX Coordinator is Kat McGee, C Wing, Room 214, (201) 684-7136.
This policy applies to protect all students from discrimination/harassment by others at the College, including students, faculty, staff members, vendors, and contractors. This statement applies to both physical and verbal conduct that occurs at the College, (including electronic communications sent or received on campus) and that occurs at any location, which can be reasonably regarded as an extension of the College. (i.e., any field location, on-line course, any off-site college-related social function, or event, or any facility where College-sponsored activities are being conducted or discussed).
This policy will not be applied to abridge a student’s exercise of free speech or expression which is protected by the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Reporting an Incident of Discrimination
To file a complaint about an incident of discrimination, you may contact thePublic Safety Department,C Wing, Room 102, (201) 684-6666; Mahwah Police Department, 221 Franklin Turnpike, (201)529-1000;Aaron Sanders, Lead Investigator for the Office of Affirmative Action and Workplace Compliance in the Office of the President, (201)984-7540; or Jill Brown, Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Officer, D Wing, Room 114, (201) 684-7502.
Reporting an Incident of Sexual Assault
Ramapo College encourages reporting for incidents of sexual assault. Students are strongly urged to report sexual assaults to College authorities and to the police in order to protect themselves and others. Students who have been sexually assaulted may report the offense to the Public Safety Department (including anonymous reporting), to the Title IX Coordinator, or to the Mahwah Police Department.
Faculty, staff, and administrators who learn of incidents of sexual assault MUST report it to the Ramapo College Title IX Coordinator (unless the employee is a designated confidential resource, such as a licensed counselor in the Counseling Center or a recognized clergy person acting in the role of a pastoral counselor.)
Survivors who have been assaulted will receive assistance in considering a number of legal and disciplinary system options which are available to them.
Survivors may choose to:
- File criminal charges in the outside courts
- File civil charges in the outside courts
- Either independent of, or in conjunction with filing through the courts, file an incident report with the Public Safety Department. The incident report will launch an investigation which will be heard through theOffice of Student Conduct (if the accused is a Ramapo College student) or through the Office of Affirmative Action and Workplace Compliance(if the accused is a College employee)
- Decide not to file charges. Sexual assault survivors are not required to report this crime. Survivors have the right to be free from any suggestion that survivors must report the crime to be assured any other rights to access to resources.
All of these options require that certain due process regulations be followed and that both parties maintain the right to present evidence or witnesses. In both outside court cases and internal student conduct proceedings, the accuser and the accused will be informed of the outcome.
Anonymous Reporting
The Public Safety Department Complaint Form is available for anonymous reports. Submissions are read and responded to during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Any submissions sent after business hours or during weekends or holidays will be read and responded to on the next business day.
If there is an imminent danger to a student, or to the community, do not use the Public Safety Department Complaint Form. Instead, contact the Public Safety Department at (201) 684-6666.
Reporting to the Public Safety Department
Office Location: C-102
Phone: (201) 684-6666
The Public Safety Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. By contacting the Public Safety Department, a survivor is not obligated to file an incident report. At the survivors’ request, only an anonymous crime report will be completed for statistical purposes.
The survivor will be asked to make decisions regarding legal and student conduct options only after discussing their options with a confidential counselor and learning what is entailed in filing a report. Even if the survivor does not want to make a formal incident report or file charges, he or she still has the right to other victims’ services. More information about reporting a crime or violation of campus policies is available here:
Officers in the Public Safety Department are trained to gather information about the complaint. Officers must provide notice of the complaint to the Title IX Coordinator within 24 hours or as soon as practicable.
Reporting to the Title IX Coordinator
Kat McGee
Office: C-214
Phone: (201) 684-7136
E-Mail:
What is the role of the Title IX Coordinator?
The Title IX Coordinator oversees the processes that address reported concerns or claims of sex or gender based discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking. Each institution must designate a Title IX administrator to review, update and implement current Title IX policies, to coordinate appropriate training and resources, and ensure effective and timely responses to complaints of sexual violence, misconduct, discrimination or harassment.
Is my Title IX complaint confidential?
The College will make every effort to keep the confidentiality of any person(s) reporting a claim and when possible will keep the identity of an unwilling victims or witnesses confidential. However, the College cannot guarantee unqualified confidentiality as the College must also balance the safety of other members in our community. If the College determines that there is the threat of imminent harm to an individual or to the community, information may need to be shared and then only with appropriate individuals. Complainants will be advised if information pertaining to a claim is shared with individuals outside of the College’s investigative process.
Reporting to the Mahwah Police Department
The Mahwah Police Department can be reached by calling (201) 529-1000 or by calling 911. If the assault took place within the past 5 days the responding officer will activate the Bergen County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
SART is a free, coordinated community response to assist a survivor in the aftermath of a recent sexual assault. It has been designed to offer a compassionate, victim-centered approach while collecting evidence that can be vital to the investigation and prosecution of the crime. SART is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
There are three members of the SART team available to a survivor. A survivor has the option to speak with all three SART members, any combination of SART members, or speak with none of the SART members. SART members include:
Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE): A FNE is specially trained in forensic evidence collection. The FNE conducts a head to toe exam and collects evidence to assist in the prosecution of the crime. Medications to prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections and pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault are also offered to the survivor. The FNE does not treat injury; anyone needing medical attention will be seen by the attending physician in the local Emergency Department.
Law Enforcement: A local police officer and/or detective from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit is available at the request of the survivor to conduct an investigation. In most cases of sexual assault, the choice to prosecute is left up to the survivor.